Ideabook 911: We Need a Backsplash!

Yesterday my friends Wicki and Alex emailed me a picture of their newly remodeled kitchen and asked what I thought they should do about their lack of a backsplash. Because they are big cooks, they really need to protect their walls from spatter, and they like to leave a lot of their oils, spices and utensils out on the counter.

I decided I needed to research this immediately; the first step being inviting myself over for a delicious dinner and a few glasses of wine. Step 2 was gathering some great ideas from the designers at Houzz. Step 3 is sharing it. So without further ado, I present backsplash options galore:

Becky Harris

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Here is their kitchen as it is today: This will not be their stove setup forever, so Wicki and Alex need to plan ahead. In the future they will likely have a stove that does not have anything sticking up in the back. I recommend they move the microwave to a lower cabinet to open up that over-the-stove space. And they need to pull out the stove and microwave and put tile behind them in order to leave their future options open. I should note that resale is not an issue, but not looking dated in a few years is important to them. What follows are some inspirations and ideas for a wide variety of backsplash possibilities.

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The area over the stove is an opportunity to add a different decorative element to the backsplash.

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These vertically oriented tiles draw the eye up and accentuate height.

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Many different tiles and patterns could work in an over-the-stove space like this.

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You can create a new pattern with similar tiles by choosing different shapes and orientations, and framing them in coordinating trim tile.

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Obviously, this one is a matter of personal taste, but I want to show that there really is no limit to what you can do in your over-the-stove area.

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Wicki and Alex want to keep it simple and neutral, as they don't want the backsplash to compete with the countertops for attention. But they don't want it to be boring. An accent border is a great solution.

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This border may be placed right up against the counter at the bottom of the backsplash, and it can serve as a transition between the counter and the rest of the backsplash tile.

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Here's an example that is very close to their color scheme. Note how subtle the bottom of the backsplash is.

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An even simpler way to do this is with a matching tile trim line, in the same color, flush with the rest of the backsplash tiles.

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Undermount lighting is a great way to show off your backsplash. This pattern has the perfect variation of colors for their kitchen.

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A subtle color variation and pattern like the one in these tiles would be great for their kitchen. A warmer palette would work well for them.

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Wicki and Alex are big subway tile fans. This glossy version is more contemporary and reflects light.

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Here is a more traditional subway tile in a color that will negotiate the space between the dark counters and the white cabinets.

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I think this one is too busy for their particular kitchen, but it's so beautiful and reflects the light so well that I could not resist throwing it in.

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White is definitely something to consider when you are trying to make a kitchen look bigger. Do you have a design dilemma? If so, please post it to The Buzz Board, as Wicki did here. For more backsplash inspiration, check out this ideabook and this ideabook.

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